Sault police investigating after missing tourist found dead

Detectives in Sault Ste. Marie are investigating after the body of a missing tourist was found in St. Marys River on Sunday.

Colton Brown, 20, arrived in the Sault with a tour group June 20 and was seen leaving the Delta Hotel on St. Mary's River Drive the next evening.

Colton Brown, 20, was visiting Sault Ste. Marie with a tour group when he went missing and was later found dead in St. Marys River. June 21, 2024. (Sault Ste. Marie Police Service)

"Colton is not from Sault Ste. Marie and is unfamiliar with the community," Sault Ste. Marie Police Service said in a missing person alert around 1:28 p.m. June 22.

Sharilyn Anderson-Brown, his older sister, told CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca in a social media message her brother was from Kasabonika Lake First Nation, a remote fly-in community north of Sioux Lookout.

She said her brother wasin the Sault as part of an Ontario colleges field trip.

• Get local breaking news alerts

Before Brown went missing, he was seen around 4 a.m. Saturday in the Roberta Bondar Pavilion area, police said.

In an update Sunday night, police said Brown had been located and was no longer considered missing.

It wasn't until Monday afternoon that police said he had been found dead.

• Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox

"Colton was missing for a short period of time before being found deceased in the St. Mary’s River," police said in an update.

"If you saw, or had an interaction with, Colton downtown during the evening of June 21 and/or into the early morning hours of Saturday, June 22, or heard anything unusual, please contact police."

As the investigation continues, community members are asked to review security camera footage during that timeframe.

Brown had been described as 6-foot-1, slender build with black, bushy hair and was last seen wearing a blue and white checkered shirt, black coat, pants, shoes and hat with glasses.

• Download the CTV News app now

"Anyone with information is urged to contact Det. Sgt. Alison Campbell by calling 705-949-6300 ext. 288," Sault, police said.

"You can provide information anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 705-942-7867 or 1-800-222-8477. You can also click here to submit a web tip or download the P3 app. Your tip to Crime Stoppers is anonymous and protected by case law, for more information."

Anderson-Brown said in a social media post the family travelled to the Sault from Thunder Bay to see where his body was found.

"My mom and dad needed to know, so we went, it was beautiful out there," she said in a post.

"Went to place naasemah and pray for his journey. Trying so hard to be strong, I could rant forever right now. I love you." 

 

His grieving sister said an autopsy will be performed in Toronto to determine the cause of death.

"He is extremely loved by many and we hope we find out what exactly happened because this is painful not knowing how, when and possibly why," she told CTV News.

"He had dreams to go back to school. He wanted to take a break off of school for another year to save money and be with his loved ones, especially his girlfriend, before he went back. He was telling me he loved Cambrian and Sault College and he was having a hard time choosing between the two."